Compactor for refuse

ABSTRACT

A refuse receptacle has an upper open end through which a platen can move in and out to compress refuse in the receptacle. A motor is connected with an element which is guided for horizontal movement and to which one arm of a two-arm parallelogram-linkage is pivoted, the other end of which one arm is pivoted to the platen. A guide lever is pivoted at one end to the aforementioned arm and at the other end to a stationary component of the compactor at a level above the receptacle. The purpose of the guide lever is to prevent lateral displacement of the platen out of its vertical path of movement.

United States Patent [191 Mayer COMPACTOR FOR REFUSE Inventor: Rolf Mayer, Giengen, Germany Robert Bosch Hausgeraete GmbH, Giengen, Germany Filed: Nov. 29, 1972 Appl. No.: 310,419

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 15, 1971 Germany 2162189 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,067 2/1952 Sachtleber 254/10 C 3,714,890 2/1973 Moon 100/229A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 28,129 1/1903 Switzerland 100/289 June 18, 1974 1,014,742 8/1952 France 100/289 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [5 7] ABSTRACT A refuse receptacle has an upper open end through which a platen can move in and out to compress refuse in the receptacle. A motor is connected with an element which is guided for horizontal movement and to which one arm of a two-arm parallelogram-linkage is pivoted, the other end of which one arm is pivoted to the platen. A guide lever is pivoted at one end to the aforementioned arm and at the other end to a stationary component of the compactor at a level above the receptacle. The purpose of tlhe guide lever is to prevent lateral displacement of the platen out of its vertical path of movement.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure r tua -.3 1" A. v

COMPACTOR FOR REFUSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a compactor in general, and more particularly to a compactor for refuse, especially but not exclusively for domestic refuse.

Such compactors are known and are becoming increasingly more important, especially for use in apartments where they make it possible to reduce the volume of generated refuse-for instance bottles, cans or packages-4o a significantly smaller amount, thus alleviating the refuse-storage problem and also the problem of subsequently carting the refuse away.

In one known refuse compactor of the type in question there is provided a receptacle for the refuse which has an upper open end through which upper open end a platen moves substantially vertically into and out of the receptacle, compressing the refuse therein as it moves into the receptacle. The platen is driven by a parallelogram-linkage having two arms on one of which there is provided a guide roller which runs in a horizontally extending guide rail having a section which is inclined towards the receptacle. A motor is provided, coupled with the linkage to transmit motion thereto. Due to the inclination of the section of the guide rail the movement of the associated arm of the parallelogram-linkage, which arm is connected with the platen and forces movement thereof, assures that the platen moves in vertical direction. However, at the same time the platen undergoes a lateral displacement out of its vertical path. This means that the cross-sectional area of the receptacle must be greater than the crosssectional area of the platen by that amount by which the platen is laterally displaced during its horizontal movement, as otherwise the movement of the platen would obviously be hindered by contact with one of the side walls of the receptacle. Of course, this in turn means that there is a clearance between the periphery of the platen and the side walls of the receptacle, and, when the platen moves downwardly in its compacting stroke, some of the refuse can move upwardly through this clearance and can become deposited on the upper surface of the platen, where it has to be either removed manually when the device is shut down, or where it may remain undetected and might possibly lead to undesirable odors or other difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide an improved refuse compactor which is not possessed of these disadvantages.

Still more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved refuse compactor which assures in a simple manner such a guidance for the platen that the latter is completely or at least substantially prevented from the lateral displacement out of its vertical compacting and retracting stroke.

In pursuance of these objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a compactor for refuse, particularly domestic refuse, which comprises support means, and a refuse receptacle having an upper opening, with a platen being mounted for at least substantially vertical tially vertical movement of the latter is reliably counteracted.

It is advantageous, in accordance with a further concept of the invention, if the lever is at least substantially half the length of the linkage arm with which it is connected, and if the lever is pivoted to the support means approximately at the level of the guide which guides one end of the linkage arm the other end of which is connected with the platen.

Such an arrangement makes it possible for the overall construction to have a relatively low height, which is advantageous because it is desirable that the compactor be capable of being accommodated under a counter, for instance under a kitchen sink built into a counter.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a somewhat diagramatical vertical section illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing in detail, it will be seen that it diagramatically illustrates a vertical section of a kitchen counter 10 in which a kitchen sink or basin 11 is provided. The counter 10 has a front door 12 and located in the counter 10 is a refuse compactor 13 for compacting such refuse as empty bottles, cans and packages and the like.

The compactor 13 has a receptacle 14 which has an upper open side into which the refuse to be compacted is admitted. There is provided a motor 15 which is of a type whose direction of rotation can be reversed; such motors are well known per se. Further provided is a platen 16 which can be moved vertically into the receptacle 14 through the upper open end thereof for compacting of refuse therein, and can there upon be retracted out of the upper open end. The platen is guided for vertical movement by a parallelogram drive 17 having tow arms 18 and 19 of equal length, as well as two lever 20.

The front of the receptacle 14 is provided with the door 12 and the receptacle is mounted on two rails 23 which are connected to the two side walls 22 of the compactor 13. Together with the door 12, the receptacle 14 can be pulled out of the position in which it is located underneath the counter 10, to a position where it is located forwardly of the counter 10 so that its upper open end is exposed for introduction of refuse.

When the receptacle 14 is in the illustrated position, it is located beneath the platen 16 with slight spacing therefrom, so that the platen can move into the upper opening of the receptacle. The arms 18 and 19 each are pivoted at one end to the platen 16 at the pivot locations 24 and 24'; the respective other ends are pivoted to a component 25 which can be moved by the motor 15 via a threaded spindle 26 and is provided with rollers 27 which guide it for movement in a substantially horizontal path on a substantially horizontal guide 28.

The spindle 26 is turnably journaled in a block 29 which is stationarily mounted on the compactor 13 and is provided with a worm gear 30 which meshes with a worm pinion 31 on the output shaft of motor 15. A spindle nut 32 is provided on the spindle 26 and is fixedly connected with the component 25 so that when the spindle 26 turns, the component 25 has imposed on it a horizontal displacement.

As illustrated, the lever 20 has half the length of the arm 18, and is pivoted to the latter in the center region thereof at one end, that is one end of the lever 20, whereas the other end of the lever 20 is provided to a stationary portion of the support, that is any stationary portion of the remainder of the compactor 13; this latter pivot is designated with the reference numeral 33 and is located approximately vertically above the location 24 at the level of the guide 28 for the component 25.

It is advantageous to line the receptacle 14 with a bag 34 of synthetic plastic material or the like, the upper end of which is clamped to the upper end of the receptacle.

Evidently, it is conceivable to arrange the compactor not beneath the sink, but beneath a drawer in the counter 10, or beneath a counter top portion of the counter.

In operation, the receptacle 14 is drawn out of the counter from its illustrated position, so that its upper open end is exposed. The refuse is placed into it and thereupon the receptacle 14 is pushed back into the confines of the counter 10 whereupon the motor is energized by closing a non-illustrated switch. Once energized, the motor drives via its ram 31 and the worm gear 50, the spindle 26 in rotation; as a result of this, the component 25 moves along the guide 28 towards the component 29 and during this horizontal movement of the component 25 the platen 16 is moved vertically downwardly via the parallelogram-linkage 17 until it enters into the upper open end of the receptacle l4 and then continues to move downwardly, compressing the refuse therein.

If a predetermined maximum compacting resistance does not result during compacting of the refuse, the platen is moved to the position illustrated in broken lines whereupon the motor 15 is automatically reversed and shifts the component 25 in the opposite direction, raising the platen 16 to the full line position. if, however, during the vertical downward compacting stroke of platen 16 the predetermined maximum compacting resistance is reached, then a non-illustrated relay will act to reverse the drive motor 15 in which case the platen 16 is retracted to its full line position before it reaches the broken line position. At that time the motor 15 is automatically switched off and the receptacle can be pulled out from underneath the counter 10 for removal of the compacted refuse. It will be understood that the control of the operation of the motor, the reversal thereof and the sensing of the compacting pressure, do not form a part of the invention and have been described only to make the operation of the device understandable. The invention is in the provision of the lever 20 and the association thereof with the other components, making it possible to prevent a lateral displacement of the platen out of its vertical compacting and retracting path.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated annd described as embodied in a compactor for refuse, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning .and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A compactor for refuse, comprising support means; a refuse receptacle having an upright axis, a rear wall generally parallel to said axis, and an upper opening; a platen extending substantially normal to said axis and mounted for movement through said opening and descent along said axis in said receptacle for com pacting of refuse therein; moving means for effecting movement of said platen along said axis and comprising a parallelogram linkage including at least two elongated arms having longitudinally spaced ends, one end of each arm being pivoted to said platen, a slidable member to which the other ends of said arms are pivotably connected, and guide means guiding said slidable member for displacement in an at least substantially horizontal path extending above said upper opening of said receptacle; reversible motor means located rearwardly of said rear wall in an upper region thereof and having a substantially upright rotatable output shaft; transmission means for converting the rotary movement of said output shaft into the displacement of said slidable member in said path; and at least one lever having one end pivoted to one of said arms and an other end pivoted to said support means for resisting a tendency of said platen to deviate toward and away from said rear wall from the movement along said axis during said descent.

2. A compactor as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end of said lever is pivoted to said one arm substantially midway between the ends of said one arm.

3. A compactor as defined in claim 2, wherein said other end of said lever is pivoted to said support means at a level above said receptacle.

4. A compactor as defined in claim 1, wherein said lever has a length which is at least substantially equal to one-half the length of said one arm.

5. A compactor as defined in claim 4, wherein said other end of said lever is pivoted to said support means substantially at the level of said guide means.

l l =l= 

1. A compactor for refuse, comprising support means; a refuse receptacle having an upright axis, a rear wall generally parallel to said axis, and an upper opening; a platen extending substantially normal to said axis and mounted for movement through said opening and descent along said axis in said receptacle for compacting of refuse therein; moving means for effecting movement of said platen along said axis and comprising a parallelogram linkage including at least two elongated arms having longitudinally spaced ends, one end of each arm being pivoted to said platen, a slidable member to which the other ends of said arms are pivotably connected, and guide means guiding said slidable member for displacement in an at least substantially horizontal path extending above said upper opening of said receptacle; reversible motor means located rearwardly of said rear wall in an upper region thereof and having a substantially upright rotatable output shaft; transmission means for converting the rotary movement of said output shaft into the displacement of said slidable member in said path; and at least one lever having one end pivoted to one of said arms and an other end pivoted to said support means for resisting a tendency of said platen to deviate toward and away from said rear wall from the movement along said axis during said descent.
 2. A compactor as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end of said lever is pivoted to said one arm substantially midway between the ends of said one arm.
 3. A compactor as defined in claim 2, wherein said other end of said lever is pivoted to said support means at a level above said receptacle.
 4. A compactor as defined in claim 1, wherein said lever has a length which is at least substantially equal to one-half the length of said one arm.
 5. A compactor as defined in claim 4, wherein said other end of said lever is pivoted to said support means substantially at the level of said guide means. 